Viola! MAJOR upgrade which would make Pie think twice about not signing with the Note. One trade like this, not counting anything else, and we're saying we're out to win. Best part is, if we had to give up someone else, all that would do is give us more money to play with. Can't beat this.

The big question is this: We have 9.16m cap room left. That would be enough as it stands to sign Stewart (3m) and Pie (6m), if we could pull that off. If Pie asks for 7+, do we 'trade down' Stewart to another team for the cap space to do it? What would you do?

Sometimes I think a viola would be a major upgrade over Stewart when he's in a funk.

Viola! MAJOR upgrade which would make Pie think twice about not signing with the Note. One trade like this, not counting anything else, and we're saying we're out to win. Best part is, if we had to give up someone else, all that would do is give us more money to play with. Can't beat this.

The big question is this: We have 9.16m cap room left. That would be enough as it stands to sign Stewart (3m) and Pie (6m), if we could pull that off. If Pie asks for 7+, do we 'trade down' Stewart to another team for the cap space to do it? What would you do?

Sometimes I think a viola would be a major upgrade over Stewart when he's in a funk.

strangely, the same experts that rate the Blues' free agent activity as a D+ for missing out at Lecavalier and Fippulathen turn around and rate those two among the worst contracts of this offseasonso we did bad by not spending stupid money?

flyingnote38 wrote:strangely, the same experts that rate the Blues' free agent activity as a D+ for missing out at Lecavalier and Fippulathen turn around and rate those two among the worst contracts of this offseasonso we did bad by not spending stupid money?

Okay so even if the signings were "busts" so to speak... they're short term deals.

Oh no, we'll deal Roy at the deadline or just let him go and free up cap space. Devastating. Such a moronic signing.

Look at baseball, when then Angels signed Pujols, Hamilton, Wilson, et. al. they were universally praised and pundits predicted World Series trips, etc. No one talked about how this would help he Cardinals. Fast forward two years, the Cards have made a return trip to the NLCS and are one of the best teams in baseball. Now the narrative is how the Pujols signing HELPED the Cardinals.

So right now, these low risk deals aren't interesting and the Blues striking out on bigger names make them seem like 'losers' (as the media always has to declare) right now. But whether these guys gel or play over their contract, or whether you trade Roy at the deadline for other pieces, they can work to their advantage.

It's our hyper-kneejerk reaction society that forces people to always side with the big names over the smart, uninteresting deals.

dmiles2186 wrote:Smart and prudent does not match FLASHY! and BIG NAME!

Look at baseball, when then Angels signed Pujols, Hamilton, Wilson, et. al. they were universally praised and pundits predicted World Series trips, etc. No one talked about how this would help he Cardinals. Fast forward two years, the Cards have made a return trip to the NLCS and are one of the best teams in baseball. Now the narrative is how the Pujols signing HELPED the Cardinals.

So right now, these low risk deals aren't interesting and the Blues striking out on bigger names make them seem like 'losers' (as the media always has to declare) right now. But whether these guys gel or play over their contract, or whether you trade Roy at the deadline for other pieces, they can work to their advantage.

It's our hyper-kneejerk reaction society that forces people to always side with the big names over the smart, uninteresting deals.

glen a richter wrote:Shit for that coin Army should have brought him back into the fold.

Nah. D'Agostini was clearly not the same player as he was pre-Hitchcock. Which disappointed me. But every time I saw D'Agostini play post-20 goal season he almost looked "lost" I think is the best word for it. Bylsma gives him a bit more free-reign... could be a huge return. He's easily the most talented player in the league making $550k. I don't even think that's a question.

TSN wrote:The New Jersey Devils announced on Twitter on Thursday that forward Ilya Kovalchuk has announced his retirement.

"After many conversations with Ilya over the past year on his desire to retire from the National Hockey League, Ilya's decision became official today," said general manager Lou Lamoriello in a statement.

"On behalf of the entire organization, I wish Ilya and his family all the best in their future endeavors."

Kovalchuk played 11 seasons in the NHL, including the last four with New Jersey. He retires with career NHL totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games.

He added 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 career playoff games. Kovalchuk scored 89 goals and 112 assists for 201 points in 222 games, while adding eight goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games with the Devils. He was traded to New Jersey by Atlanta on February 4, 2010. He was Atlanta's first choice, and the first overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

He represented Russia at three Olympic Winter Games, nine World Championships, one World Junior Championship and the 2004 World Cup.

TSN wrote:The New Jersey Devils announced on Twitter on Thursday that forward Ilya Kovalchuk has announced his retirement.

"After many conversations with Ilya over the past year on his desire to retire from the National Hockey League, Ilya's decision became official today," said general manager Lou Lamoriello in a statement.

"On behalf of the entire organization, I wish Ilya and his family all the best in their future endeavors."

Kovalchuk played 11 seasons in the NHL, including the last four with New Jersey. He retires with career NHL totals of 417 goals and 399 assists for 816 points with 516 penalty minutes in 816 games.

He added 11 goals and 16 assists in 32 career playoff games. Kovalchuk scored 89 goals and 112 assists for 201 points in 222 games, while adding eight goals and 11 assists in 23 playoff games with the Devils. He was traded to New Jersey by Atlanta on February 4, 2010. He was Atlanta's first choice, and the first overall selection in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

He represented Russia at three Olympic Winter Games, nine World Championships, one World Junior Championship and the 2004 World Cup.